Still time for Leicestershire businesses to benefit from up to £10k for low carbon improvements
Businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire are being reminded that they have just a few weeks left to apply for grants to help to pay for energy efficiency improvements.
Leicester City Council’s Green BELLE scheme offers grants of up to £10,000 to small and medium-sized businesses to help cover the costs of low carbon, energy efficient improvements to their premises.
Green BELLE grants can be used to support a wide range of measures such as installing efficient heating systems, low-energy lighting, building insulation or solar PV panels.
Grants can be awarded to cover up to half of the total costs, with the remaining amount paid for by the business as match-funding.
So far, the scheme has provided a total of £812,904 of grant support to over 150 local businesses. It is estimated that has helped result in carbon savings of over 1,000 tCO2e per year – equivalent to the total carbon footprint over 300 typical homes.
Businesses have also seen a significant reduction in their energy bills as a result of improvements made through the Green BELLE scheme.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Adam Clarke, who leads on environment and transportation, said: “These grants give local small and medium-sized businesses the chance to become more energy-efficient and save money on their running costs.
“We have ambitious plans to help make Leicester a carbon neutral and climate-adapted city. The Green BELLE scheme is a really good way to welcome more local firms on board and show them that becoming more energy efficient is good for business and for the city.”
Cllr Danny Myers, assistant city mayor for jobs and skills, said: “Leicester’s wider future economic development is going to be driven by our large, thriving and diverse small and medium sized business sector. This scheme is a great way to both save these businesses money and ensure that the city has a more environmentally sustainable economy.”
Businesses must express interest in the scheme by the end of May 2022, and the deadline for submission of full applications is currently the end of June 2022. There is a limited amount of funding available being allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
All works must be completed by December 2022.
Green BELLE stands for Green Business Energy in Leicester and Leicestershire. The project is run by Leicester City Council’s sustainability service with support from Leicestershire County Council.
Leicester businesses invited to join fully-funded summer internship scheme
The University of Leicester has launched a new summer internship programme, designed to boost graduate employment in the regional economy.
This fully-funded internship scheme is one in a series of projects to commemorate the University’s Centenary.
Citizens of Change internships will take place between Monday 4 and Friday 29 July 2022, and are targeted at middle-year undergraduate students. Students will be given the opportunity to undertake a community-focused project in a Leicester or Leicestershire based organisation for a total of 140 hours over the four-week period.
Rob Fryer, Director of the Career Development Service at the University of Leicester, said: “Alongside the Leicester Graduate City Project internship, the Citizens of Change programme will undoubtedly benefit both the local economy and the University’s talent pipelines.
“And with our focus on employability, these internships will help to boost students to secure ongoing work and create a pathway towards their chosen careers.”
The benefit to business are that salaries costs are completely covered, providing access to talented undergraduates to support projects and add real value.
Fahad Manier, from city-based personal trainers Team Fighting Fit, said: “These internships are really valuable for both the business and the students involved. As a community engagement initiative, these funded schemes really help to promote local business and make a difference to the lives of the people in Leicester.”
Organisations who host projects with a focus on community engagement and/or impact are invited to submit expressions of interest. Categories of interest should align with the University of Leicester’s strategic goals, including; health and wellbeing; innovation; environmental sustainability; equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI); or research.
If you are an organisation interested in participating get in touch with Mariyah Mandhu, Project Manager (Internships) on mm977@leicester.ac.uk by Friday 29 April 2022.
Plans progress to bring Friar Gate Goods Yard back to life
Clowes Developments, owners of Friar Gate Goods Yard and surrounding land running from Friar Gate, Uttoxeter New Road and Great Northern Road have been working closely with local authorities and professional advisors to secure a viable future for the historical landmark in the centre of Derby.
In the last few weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in activity at the site whilst works permitted under planning applications have commenced including;
1. 21/01157/LBA; “Structural stabilisation works to dismantle damaged and unstable construction elements and to make safe the existing external walls. Temporary protection works to the remaining structure to prevent further collapse of residual roof elements and prevent ongoing water ingress” and;
2. 21/01158/LBA; “Structural works to ensure the lateral stability of the external walls and loose items of building fabric. Erection of scaffold for footpath protection and to allow access to window and roof level and provide restraint to the building. Roof works to include capping beams or reinstatement roofing and remodelling of the external ground levels.”
The proposed plans include a commercial and residential mixed-use development with a large, open, green space located at the centre of the scheme. The provisional plans include restoring the external walls of the historic and protected bonded warehouse building which they hope will remain an integral feature of the design of the scheme moving forward.
Land & planning director at Clowes Developments, Robert Hepwood, commented on the scheme: “Clowes Developments have been engaging in conversations to secure a viable use for the site for several years. We are delighted to finally be moving forward with these exciting proposals.
“Working closely with Derby City Council, Historic England and other parties including Friends of Friar Gate Bridge we have created an award-winning team of advisors including Maber Architects Ltd, Jackson Purdue Lever and Rigby and Co.
“We feel we have the right team in place to bring Friar Gate Goods Yard back to life and develop a scheme which Derby will be proud of whilst restoring some of the city’s most iconic historical buildings.”
Offer accepted for Derby County Football Club
The joint administrators of Derby County have accepted an offer from American businessman Chris Kirchner to acquire the football club out of administration.
The bid is for the purchase of the football club only with the terms of the club’s ongoing occupation of Pride Park stadium to be negotiated with external stakeholders.
Mr Kirchner had initially expressed an interest in acquiring the club in late 2021.
Quantuma says discussions have taken place with key stakeholders, and Mr Kirchner has been named as the preferred bidder for the Club, with immediate effect.
The joint administrators have entered into a period of exclusivity with Mr Kirchner and his advisers, during which further operational, commercial and contractual discussions will take place.
Carl Jackson, joint administrator, Quantuma, said: “We are delighted to be able to name Mr Kirchner as preferred bidder, which the Joint Administrators consider represents the best deal for creditors and one which will secure the long-term future of the Club.
“The naming of our preferred bidder represents a significant milestone in the administration, and we look forward to working with Mr Kirchner and his team to complete the sale of the Club.”
New Castle Donington HQ for recruitment agency
FHP Property Consultants, on behalf of clients, have agreed the letting of Unit 2, Redwing Court in Castle Donington to The Recruitment Group for their new head office.
The property provides the company with just under 2,000ft² of modern, self-contained office accommodation over two floors with a good designated car parking provision.
Redwing Court itself is a purpose built office development on Willow Farm Business Park.
Thomas Szymkiw, of FHP’s Office Agency Department, said: “I am delighted to have secured The Recruitment Group as tenants for Unit 2 Redwing Court. The property was previously under offer to another party – however as soon as it came back to the market, I knew it would be perfect for their requirements and after a brief viewing we agreed a swift deal with my client. Paul and the team were a pleasure to deal with throughout the process and I wish them all the best of luck for the future.”
Paul Hipkiss of The Recruitment Group said: “I would like to thank Thomas and his team at FHP for their hard work getting us into our new head office which we are absolutely delighted with. This new office will give us the platform to continue our growth plans as we look to build on a very successful last 2 years.”
Ideagen’s football fundraising efforts score more than £1,000
The corporate football team of software firm and Nottingham Forest Football Club (NFFC) partner, Ideagen Plc, raised more than £1,000 for charity after reaching the national finals of a corporate football tournament.
Ideagen’s team – made up of employees based at its Ruddington HQ – reached the final 16 in the knockout stages out of 404 total teams in the Business Fives National Final in Manchester, after winning the Nottingham tournament last November.
Since last year, the team has been fundraising as part of its sporting success and following the final, raised a total of £1,105 for Ideagen’s chosen charity, the Alzheimer’s Society.
The tournament is hosted by corporate sports provider, Business Fives Group, which encourages firms across the country to participate in sports events to raise money for a charitable cause of their choice.
Last year, it held regional events all across the country, with the best teams from each qualifying for the final, taking place at Manchester Central Powerleague.
In July last year, Ideagen joined NFFC’s partner programme as a sponsor of the Academy and girls’ development teams and last November launched its Think Big education initiative alongside the Nottingham Forest Community Trust.
For the final, the team proudly donned its own Ideagen branded kits for the tournament, kindly supplied by the NFFC Academy team.
Callum Davidson, talent development manager at Ideagen and captain of the business’s football team, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have raised more than £1,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society – a charity particularly close to our hearts. The team played brilliantly and we’re so proud to have reached the National Finals, raising a substantial sum of money for charity in the process.
“A big thank you goes to our partners at Nottingham Forest for supplying our kits. Although we didn’t win the tournament, our goal was more than just success on the pitch; we are delighted with our performance off the pitch, raising a substantial amount of money for a cause which will really benefit.
“We’ll be entering into next season’s Nottingham tournament again which is due to take place later this year.”
Ideagen’s team is made of staff from its Marketing, Sales and People departments:
GK – Stanley Paton-Rawthorne
DEF – Tom Shanks
DEF – Joe Giles
MID – Martin Weightman
MID – Joe Palmer
MID – Tim Harruna
ATT – Callum Davidson (C)
ATT – Jacob Hunt
Derbyshire-headquartered Forest Holidays merges with Sykes Holiday Cottages
Mid-market private equity firm LDC has realised the investment from its 10-year partnership with Derbyshire-headquartered Forest Holidays through a merger with Sykes Holiday Cottages.
Forest Holidays is the owner and operator of environmentally sensitive cabins set across Britain’s forests. Since the mid-1970s, the company has sensitively created cabins under the guiding principles of sustainable woodland use and the preservation of the countryside and biodiversity.
To date, Forest Holidays has invested over £100 million into Britain’s forests, increasing recreational use, improving facilities, and creating and maintaining trails. Forest Holidays has 12 forest locations with many in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park in Scotland and opening later this year in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales.
LDC first invested in Forest Holidays in 2012 and has supported the management team to deliver its plan, while continuing to support its sustainability strategy. During LDC’s partnership with the business, the management team has opened five new locations across the UK.
Sykes shares Forest Holidays’ approach to sustainable tourism which strives to have a positive impact on the planet and local communities whilst providing memorable shared experiences for its customers. The combined business will be united by a common purpose to bring further benefits to nature, people and local communities.
Bruce McKendrick, CEO of Forest Holidays, said: “Forest Holidays has always sought to balance social, environmental and economic benefit. The benefits we bring to physical and mental well-being are more important than ever and in Sykes we have found a partner who shares this ethos.
“They also recognise the importance of our long-term partnership with the Forestry Commission and our shared objective to offer holidays that are good for people, good for nature and good for the environment. I’m grateful for LDC’s long-term support and for backing our plans to continue to invest in our locations throughout the pandemic.”
David Bains, partner and head of East Midlands and East of England at LDC, added: “Forest Holidays is a real East Midlands success story. From their head offices in Derbyshire, Bruce and his team have sensitively developed the UK’s leading provider of cabin holiday experiences at some of the nation’s most astounding locations of natural beauty. We’re proud to have played a part supporting their expansion over the last 10 years.”
Three-month high in permanent placement growth for the Midlands
The latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: Midlands survey highlighted a further steep expansion in permanent placements in March, and one that was the sharpest since the end of 2021.
Meanwhile, temporary billings rose for the twenty-first month in a row. The rise in permanent salaries eased for the second month running to the softest since last September, though inflation of hourly pay rates for temporary staff accelerated to a four-month high. Finally, skilled staff shortages contributed to the sharpest reduction in permanent candidate availability since last October.
The KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: Midlands is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to around 100 recruitment and employment consultancies in the Midlands.
Further rapid rise in permanent placements
The rate of growth in permanent placements across the Midlands quickened at the end of the first quarter. The increase was rapid overall and the sharpest seen since last December. Recruitment consultancies indicated that placements had risen following stronger demand for permanent staff from clients amid sustained shortages.
The increase in the Midlands was the fastest of the four monitored English regions.
March data pointed to a continued increase in temporary billings in the Midlands. The rate of expansion quickened from February and extended the current sequence to 21 months. Respondents suggested that clients were becoming increasingly confident to fill vacancies with temporary staff, while there was some evidence that more temporary workers were available.
Growth in temp billings in the Midlands was the second-fastest of the monitored regions, behind London.
Permanent vacancies increased at a marked pace in the Midlands during March. The rate of increase quickened for the second month running and led to the sharpest rise in permanent vacancies for four months, yet was the slowest of the four monitored English regions.
Demand for temporary staff also rose steeply in the latest survey period. The pace of expansion accelerated from February to the quickest since last August.
Sharper decline in permanent candidate numbers
The Midlands saw a further reduction in the supply of permanent candidates during March. The rate of the decrease quickened to the fastest since last October. Anecdotal evidence suggested that people in work were reluctant to move at present, while some recruiters cited shortages of suitably experienced staff for permanent roles. At the national level, the reduction in the availability of permanent staff was quicker than that seen in the Midlands.
Recruitment consultancies indicated that temporary candidate numbers decreased at a marked pace in March. That said, the pace of reduction slowed from February to reach the softest for ten months. A number of respondents indicated that skills shortages had contributed to the lack of available staff for temp roles.
Permanent salary growth eases for second month running
Permanent salaries for new joiners in the Midlands increased for the thirteenth month in a row in March. While historically elevated, the rate of inflation eased to the softest since last September. A combination of a lack of suitable candidates and pressure on recruiters due to higher costs of living were behind the increase in permanent salaries. The rise in permanent salaries in the Midlands was the slowest of the four English regions covered, however.
Pay rates for temporary staff rose sharply during March. The rate of inflation accelerated for the first time in four months and was the quickest since November 2021. Recruitment consultancies indicated that candidate supply shortages had been a leading factor behind higher pay rates.
Moreover, the increase in the Midlands was the second-quickest of the four monitored English regions, behind the North of England.
Commenting on the latest survey results, Kate Holt, people consulting partner at KPMG UK, said: “The Midlands saw a rapid rise in job vacancies during March, albeit at a slower rate than the North, South and London regions.
“The dwindling supply of candidates is frustrating employers, not just those that are looking to grow, but also those simply trying to replace staff who might have left through the pandemic. This presents more worry for businesses, many of which are already tackling a myriad of challenges, not least the incredible rise in operating costs as inflation rises.
“The Midlands has long been known for its resilience and job seekers in the region should take hear that the market is creating attractive opportunities for candidates. Unfortunately, many businesses may struggle to offer competitive enough salaries that can meet expectations.”
Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the REC, said: “We can clearly see that labour and skills shortages are driving inflation in these latest figures. Starting salaries for permanent staff are continuing to grow rapidly, partially due to demand for staff accelerating and partially as firms increase pay for all staff in the face of rising prices.
“Record COVID infection levels are also pushing up demand for temporary workers, particularly in blue collar and hospitality sectors, underpinning the ability of temps to seek higher rates.
“However, the overall number of permanent placements being made has stabilised in recent months. This is no surprise after a period of historically high growth, and in the face of more economic uncertainty.
“Even so, the jobs market is very tight. Businesses will need to broaden their searches and be creative in making their offer to candidates more attractive, in consultation with recruitment experts. But government can help by incentivising investment in skills and people during the inflation crisis.”
New partnership brings cowork spaces to Belper
A new partnership has been formed between start-up business Reunion and Hub Space; a brand new initiative at The Old School House in Belper, the Home of Creative Holistic Space and Chevin Fleet Solutions. Reunion @ Hub Space will bring flexible cowork spaces to Belper – a first for the town.
When Tracey Sowerby realised that Reunion were looking for a space for their coworking plans, she contacted founder Jo Black. Tracey and Ashley renovated the former school house in 2012 and it has been the home of their two businesses, Creative Holistic Space and Chevin Fleet Solutions ever since. The sensitively restored historic building can accommodate around 60 people.
However, since working from home became the norm an opportunity presented itself to rethink the use of the Chevin office space. Tracey said: “We have a modern, top spec office environment that currently is not being fully utilised and thought it would be a great fit to work with Reunion who can make great use of the space and open it up to people that need it.”
Jo Black, founder and director of Reunion, had been searching for an appropriate location for her community deli and cowork business since the summer, but had several setbacks in finding a site that would be suitable.
Reunion have recently acquired 23 Strutt Street, the site of former deli Fresh Basil, but knew that the space would not be appropriate for cowork members. Jo said: “We love the site on Strutt Street, but realised that it may not be the best environment for our cowork members, as we want to welcome all members of the community, including families, and the space may get a bit noisy if you’re trying to host a zoom call!
“We are delighted to be working with Tracey and Ashley at The Old School House, it is truly a wonderful heritage building that’s a real asset to Belper, combined with all the facilities that you’d expect in a modern office.”
Belper and the wider Amber Valley has many micro and small businesses in the area, and Reunion hopes to bring business owners and remote workers alike together and establish a much-needed business community that centres in the town.
The cowork space will be partly shared with Chevin Fleet Solutions, and will have high speed internet, modern desks and chairs, bookable meeting rooms, parking, bike storage and kitchen facilities. Reunion @ Hub Space will be open to booking new members in the coming weeks and expect to open in May. Members will also receive discounts on food at Reunion Deli and gain access to networking events.
Steady consumer spending sustains retail sales growth in March
The retail sector has continued its strong start to 2022 by recording its thirteenth consecutive month of like-for-like sales, new figures by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP reveal.
According to BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker, total like-for-like sales, combined in-store and online, increased by +60.9% in March from a base of +42.5% for the equivalent month in 2021.
Total non-store like-for-like sales fell by -10.8%, marking three months of decline for non-store like-for-like sales. This is in stark contrast to March 2021, when non-store like-for-like sales reached +157.2% during the third national lockdown.
Both fashion and lifestyle categories saw substantial increases in their total like-for-like sales, however, homewares saw its first fall since April 2020. The first week of the month saw growth of +48.31% from a base of +4.53% for the same week the previous year, and the second and third weeks of the month saw increases of +60.87% and +94.31% respectively. In the final week of March, total like-for-like sales rose by +76.13%, from a +131.54% base for the same week in 2021, when the government’s ‘Stay at Home’ order officially ended.
